Netizens heavily accused the ruling DMK government of hypocrisy, as they shared old videos of current Chief Minister MK Stalin and Sun News, the DMK’s media outlet, which previously peddled a narrative to oppose the former AIADMK government for selecting greenfield projects on agricultural land. This strategy was once used as a tool to gain power, yet the same party is now advocating for these greenfield projects, claiming they are essential for economic growth.
This comes against the backdrop of actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay visiting farmers and protesters who have been demonstrating for over 900 days against the proposed Parandur airport project. Vijay expressed his solidarity with them during this visit, marking his first on-ground protest, where he engaged directly with the public. While his approach largely mirrored the DMK in opposition mode, which capitalized on people’s emotions against infrastructure projects to gain power, it reflects a similar political tactic.
Below are some instances of how the DMK opposed such projects in the past and has supported them once in power.
For instance, during a speech opposing the then-ruling ADMK, MK Stalin, the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, criticized the proposed 8-lane highway project, claiming, “This project will affect 8,000 acres of agricultural land. A data shows it will require the destruction of 300 acres of forest, 8 mountains, and cause damage to more than 10,000 wells, 154 lakes, 316 small ponds, 20 schools, over 250 ancient temples, 30,000 coconut trees, 4,200 borewells, and 28,000 houses. Edappadi Palaniswami is pushing this project for mere commissions, despite the severe impact on lakhs of people, particularly the livelihoods of women and children. They are determined to implement this project by cutting down all green trees and taking away half- to one-acre lands from farmers. Today, if anyone tries to stop them, they are being attacked and arrested.”
அதையே இந்த ஆளை பார்த்து கேளு அக்கா .வளர்ச்சி வேணுமாம் ஆனா இழப்பு இருக்கக்கூடாதாம். குடும்பமாக சொகுசு காரில் சாலையில் வலம் வருவார்களாம் ஆனால் எட்டு வழி சாலை போடக்கூடாதாம் எப்படி பேசி இருக்கார் பாரேன் .#SayNoToParandurAirport https://t.co/eF7Jpb0VJW pic.twitter.com/a4G4NxaN6F
— Sangeetha -TVK✨ (@sangeet29332013) January 20, 2025
In another video shared, MK Stalin had criticized the previous AIADMK regime, portraying it as anti-farmer. He remarked, “Is he a farmer? Under his regime, all the farmland of the farmers was expropriated just to secure mere commissions.”
எதிர்கட்சியாக இருக்கும் போது எப்படி விவசாயிகள் மீது அக்கறை இருப்பது போல பேசி நாடகம் ஆடியுள்ளார்.
இப்போ உங்களை விவசாயி நாக்கை பிடுங்குவது போல் கேள்வி கேட்கிறார் பதில் சொல்லுங்கள்@arivalayam @DMKITwing pic.twitter.com/oUPyIePNzq
— Sangeetha -TVK✨ (@sangeet29332013) January 21, 2025
Moreover, the DMK’s first family-owned media outlet, Sun News, played a significant role in promoting the narrative that villagers opposed the proposed greenfield project, amplifying the voices of protesters in 2019 when the DMK was supporting the issue. However, by 2022, the narrative shifted, with Sun News focusing on why Parandur was chosen for the airport and framing the project as necessary for economic development was the height of hypocrisy.
If there is no opposition to a project, Sun News would give credit to the ruling DMK government, but when opposition arises, it would shift the blame to the central government. This reflects their inherent hypocrisy.
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